The Revered Dr. Laird James Stuart passed away peacefully on December 19, 2018. He is lovingly survived by his wife of fifty years, Virginia Kirkland. Laird was predeceased by his parents, James Beecher and Virginia Nevius Stuart, and stepmother, Caroline Evans Stuart. He is survived by his brothers, Robert Beecher, and Bruce D.D. Stuart (Christine) and sister, Diane Gay Westman (Roger); daughters: Carrie Heishman (Tony), Brodie Owens (Marty) and Rachel Bain; grandchildren: Sean and Natalie Ismail, Ainsley and Lindsey Owens, and Xavier Bain; plus, beloved cousins, nephews and nieces. Laird matriculated at Amherst College and earned his Master and Doctor of Divinity Degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds honorary degrees from Waynesburg and Westminster Colleges. Laird served the Presbyterian Church USA congregations in Milford, Connecticut; Bergenfield, New Jersey; Grand Haven, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and San Francisco, California. Laird and Virginia served in the Tetons with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks and Laird continued as a long-term board member as well as on the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church USA. Laird chaired the boards of The Pittsburgh and San Francisco Theological Seminaries and most recently served on the Board of Princeton Theological Seminary. Following his retirement from Calvary Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, he served as interim President of San Francisco Theological Seminary for sixteen months. His life and calling to ministry were based on his deep commitment to grace, mercy and justice. The family extends its gratitude to Dr. David Fermin, the staff of the Meijer Heart Center and Spectrum Health Home Hospice. A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, January 19, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven, Michigan. Visitation will be 4-7 PM Friday, January 18, 2019 at The VanZantwick Chapel (620 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417). Interment will take place in Lake Forest Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Laird may be given to: A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (acmnp.com/donate), or Princeton Theological Seminary. Please sign the family's online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 22 to Dec. 23, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Laird Stuart

Sponsored by Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services - The VanZantwick Chapel.

7 Entries

Joseph James

September 7, 2020

Rev Stuart was such a kind man. He comforted my mother through her illness that took her life. He would come to the house and check on here quite often and leave us all feeling just a little bit better. I am sorry to hear of his passing and hope you find the same peace that he brought into our lives.

Philip Butin

March 2, 2019

Dear Ginny and family, I only heard of Laird's passing this weekend from Bruce Reyes Chow here in Arkansas. I want to express to you my profound gratitude for Laird and the wise counsel, encouraging support, and kind friendship he showed me as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and later as my successor as interim President at San Francisco Theological Seminary. As you well know, Laird was a consistently kind, gracious, supportive presence; a wise counselor; an empathetic listener, and one of those rare leaders who is committed and able to draw people from divergent perspectives together around common priorities and a shared vision. He was always a personal strength and counselor for me during our shared leadership of the seminary in very precarious times, often shining a fresh light on a difficult situation, but never imposing his own perspective in a way that might minimize my role or responsibility. I don't know the circumstances of his passing, but I do know that our God of grace has received him into the arms of the divine mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Thank you for so generously sharing him and yourselves with my wife Jan and me during our time together serving God and the Presbyterian Church in San Francisco.

Martha Atwood

January 8, 2019

My sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Virginia and family.

December 30, 2018

Offering our sincere condolences. May the God of love comfort your heart and make you firm in your time of grief. 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17.

Jed Laird

December 23, 2018

Laird Stuart preaching (and enjoying the beaches) in Bay Head, NJ every summer will be what I miss. Rest with the Lord knowing your life was very well lived.

Jed Laird
51 Mount Street
Bay Head

December 23, 2018

LAIRD WAS A SPECIAL ROOMMATE FOR OUR YEARS AT AMHERST. VERY MATURE AND THOUGHTFUL EVEN THEN. MANY INSITEFUL DISCUSSIONS LSATE INTO THE NIGHT. HE WILL BE MISSED BY FAMILY AND FRIEND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. ROGER SIEMENS

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